Iman and Aqeedah are the foundations of Islam that define a Muslim’s beliefs and actions. Linguistically, Iman means firm belief, and Aqeedah refers to the core principles on which a person stands.
The Quran states:
"O you who have believed, believe in Allah and His Messenger and the Book that He sent down upon His Messenger and the Scripture which He sent down before." (Surah An-Nisa 136)
This verse highlights that Iman is firmly believing in Allah, His messengers, and His scriptures.
The accuracy of Aqeedah is crucial for a Muslim because if the belief is incorrect, the deeds are not accepted. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
"Indeed, actions are based on intentions, and every person will get what he intended." (Sahih Bukhari 1)
To understand the importance of correct beliefs, the Quran states:
"And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted from him, and he will be among the losers in the Hereafter." (Surah Aal-e-Imran 85)
There are six fundamental pillars of Iman
- Belief in Allah – Believing in the oneness of Allah and His attributes
-Belief in Angels – Accepting them as Allah’s created beings of light
-Belief in Prophets – Affirming the truth of all messengers
- Belief in Divine Books – Accepting the Quran and previous scriptures
- Belief in the Day of Judgment – Having faith in resurrection and accountability
- Belief in Predestination – Understanding that everything happens by Allah’s will
Allah says in the Quran:
"The Messenger has believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord, and so have the believers. All of them have believed in Allah, His angels, His books, and His messengers." (Surah Al-Baqarah 285)
Some people spread incorrect beliefs by introducing innovations into religion. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
"Whoever does an act that is not in accordance with our matter, it will be rejected." (Sahih Muslim 1718)
Iman is not just about verbal declaration but must be demonstrated through actions. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself." (Sahih Bukhari 13)
Ways to strengthen Iman include
- Reciting and understanding the Quran and Hadith
- Keeping the company of scholars with correct beliefs
- Avoiding innovations and misguidance
- Engaging in the remembrance of Allah and making supplications
A true believer is one who holds correct beliefs and fully submits to Allah and His Messenger. The Quran says:
"Indeed, the only religion acceptable to Allah is Islam." (Surah Aal-e-Imran 19)
Every Muslim must ensure their beliefs align with the Quran and Hadith and remain steadfast on them, as this is the key to success in both worlds.
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